Stronger regional collaboration critical to enhanced social security — Bagudu

By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA — Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has called for deeper West African cooperation and more effective communication frameworks to strengthen social security systems and widen protection coverage across the sub-region.

Speaking at a 2-Day International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Technical Seminar 2026, hosted by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund in partnership with ISSA, Bagudu said shared socio-economic pressures across West Africa demand coordinated policy responses and stronger institutional alignment.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bagudu noted that Nigeria is already advancing reforms aimed at improving social protection efficiency, including pension restructuring, targeted cash transfer schemes, and broader macroeconomic adjustments designed to stabilise growth and improve welfare outcomes.

The minister also highlighted the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan, approved by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a decentralised framework designed to map economic activity across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards and improve grassroots productivity and service delivery.

According to him, long-term economic stability depends on ensuring that growth translates into tangible welfare gains, particularly for vulnerable and low-income populations across the region.

“Social security has evolved over time—from informal, traditional support systems to more structured and formalised frameworks. Platforms such as this seminar offer an important opportunity to share experiences, adopt best practices, and use communication tools to ensure no one is left behind.”

He urged participating countries to deepen knowledge exchange and harmonise approaches where possible, stressing that while governance systems differ, shared learning can accelerate reform outcomes and strengthen resilience in social protection architecture.

“We must be deliberate in ensuring that hardworking Nigerians—farmers, traders, artisans—receive commensurate rewards for their efforts. By strengthening ward-level systems, we can improve visibility, accountability, and the overall effectiveness of social security programmes,” the minister added.

Bagudu said sustained collaboration, stronger data systems and community-level governance will be key to building inclusive, efficient and future-ready social security frameworks across West Africa.

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